Palani Murugan Temple – Temple Administration
Management
The management of the Devasthanam is no easy affair. It
involves arrangements for the regular services in all the 37 temples, conduct
of festivals, Kumbhabhishekams and other purification ceremonies, and looking
after the needs of mammoth crowds, safe custody of jewels (value: Rs. two
crores), fool-proof security arrangements to prevent thefts of sculptures and
bronzes, providing for the comforts of the devotees, problems of health,
sanitation and transport, purchase of stores, construction of new buildings and
maintenance of existing ones, administration of a number of institutions
(schools, colleges, hospitals etc.), liaison with Railways, Transport, Police
and Archaeology Departments and attending to the requests for help from various
temples and for worthy causes.
It also includes periodical opening of hundis and their
proper accounting. It also means control of a staff of nearly a thousand
persons in the sub-temples and allied institutions. In fact, the Devasthanam is
a ‘state' by itself within the State of Tamil Nadu.
Revenue
In India, the income of the Palani Devasthanam is next
only to that of the Sri Venkateshwara Temple at Tirupati and the Guruvaayurappan
Temple in Kerala. The pre-eminent position of Palani is not confined to income
alone. The Palani temple has been the first in India to operate an electric
winch to a hill temple for the convenience of pilgrims. It was the first in
India to open a college of theology (Indian culture). It was the first in
Tamilnadu to make a golden chariot (car) for the Lord.
Executive Officer
The day-to-day administration at Palani in is the hands
of an Executive Officer (who has the rank of Deputy Commissioner). This is the
only temple in Tamil Nadu to be administered by an Executive Officer of the
cadre of a Deputy Commissioner and so it is under the regular and continuous
superintendence of the Commissioner, H.R. & C.E. Administration Department,
Government of Tamil Nadu at Madras.
From time to time, requests are received from far-off
countries for performance of Abhishekam and archanas. Donations pour in, in
small sums and large, earmarked for particular purposes like mandapams and
buildings and for construction of cottages. All these requests are attended to
and the donors kept in good humour.
Trustees
The Executive Officer works in close consultation with
the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Trustees are appointed by the
Commissioner for a term of three years and they elect a Chairman from among
themselves. All of them work in an honorary capacity. But their responsibility
is such that a few of them including the Chairman have almost to work full-time
sacrificing personal comforts etc.
The Trustees decide the policies, give the general
directions, take steps to increase the income and sanction the budget. They
appoint and control three types of functionaries (1) those engaged in purely
spiritual services like conducting the worship, chanting mantras and reciting
sacred hymns (2) those employed in administration and in maintenance of
accounts and (3) those who render various kinds of services in the
non-religious institutions of the Devasthanam.
The over-all control is by the Commissioner of the Hindu
Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department and the Honorable
Minister in charge of this portfolio. The H. R. and C. E. Act of 1927 is a
far-reaching measure providing for proper administration of temples, diversion
of funds for charitable purposes and Constitution of Boards of Trustees,
auditing of accounts, verification of jewels and other properties etc. This Devasthanam
and the Endowments attached thereto have been declared a special grade Notified
Temple by orders of the Government.
Personal Assistant to E.O.
The Executive Officer is assisted by a Personal
Assistant of the rank of an Assistant Commissioner. The P. A. works under the
Executive Officer and is in charge of the over-all control and administration
of the Hill Temple and winch. He supervises the conduct of Kala Pujas and
festivals, sale of tickets, sale of Panchamirtham and Tirukkovil Publications.
He also inspects Rest houses, and Tonsure Sheds, and ensures the timely
collection of lease amounts due for temple lands.
Superintendents and Peshkars
There are two superintendents for each of the three
groups (1) Hill Temple (2) Town Temple and (3) Tiru Aavinankudi group of
temples. Each pair of Superintendents does their work in turn duties. Their
work consists of administration of the temple in keeping with the direction of
the Executive Officer, controlling of crowds, supervision of Abishekams and
archanas, looking after the sanitary arrangements, escorting V.I.P.s and
providing amenities for the pilgrims.
Under the Superintendents, there are several Peshkars,
all of them experienced in temple service for a long number of years and
assisted by maniyams, accountants, archana clerks and orderlies.
In the Devasthanam office itself, there is an
experienced Manager assisted by a band of competent superintendents, section
clerks and cashiers.
Donation Schemes
Approved
and administered by the Devasthanam
Sundal
Kattalai - Rs. 500:
With reference to this scheme, if the Donor invests some
amount, the interest of the amount will be distributed as Sundal prasadham to
the devotees during Sayarakshai once in a year, date can be fixed according to
the Donor.
Archanai
Kattalai - Rs. 1000:
In this scheme, if the Donor invests some amount, the
interest of the amount will be taken for pooja and that prasadham will be sent
to them.
Panjamirutham
Kattalai - Rs. 1500:
In this scheme, if the Donor invests some amount, the
interest of the amount will be taken for Panchamirtha Abhishekam and that
prasadham will be sent to them.
Thanga
mayil vagana purappadu Kattalai - Rs. 10000:
In this scheme, if the Donor invests some amount, the
interest of the amount will be taken for Purapadu once in a year as per the
donor's wish. The donor will be honored and prasadham will be given to
them.
Vila
Pooja Kattalai - Rs. 5000
Sirukalasanthi
Kattalai - Rs. 5000
Kalasanthi
Kattalai - Rs. 5000
Uchikala
Kattalai - Rs. 5000
Sayarakshai
Kattalai - Rs. 5000
Rakkalam
Kattalai - Rs. 5000
For the above said Kattalais, on Kiruthigai,
Panguni Uthiram, Thai Poosam, New Year the charge will be Rs.50. With
reference to this, the interest from that amount will be taken for the Kala
Pooja depending upon the Donor's convenient day and they will be honored
and provided with prasadham.
Golden
Chariot Purappadu Kattalai (Normal Days) - Rs. 20000
During
Karthigai Days - Rs. 20000:
With reference to this, if the Donor invests some
amount, the interest for that amount will be taken for 'One day Purappadu' and
they will be honored and provided with prasadham.
Laddu
Purappadu Kattalai - Rs. 50000:
With reference to this, if the Donor invests some
amount, the interest for that amount will be taken to distribute 10,000 Laddu
prasadham to devotees during Sayarakshai.
Uchikala
Prasadham Kattalai - Rs.10000:
With reference to this, if the Donor invests some amount,
the interest for that amount will be taken to give Prasadham after the Uchikala
Pooja to the devotees.
Arulmigu
Shanmugarukku Shanmugarchanai Kattalai - Rs. 7500:
With reference to this, if the Donor invests some
amount, the interest for that amount will be taken to perform Pooja for Palani
Murugan who is at the Hill Temple. They will be honored and provided with prasadham.
Uchikala
Annadhana Kattalai - Rs. 25000:
Temple Administrative Group Order No: 88/- 26.11
From 1997 daily after the Uchikala Pooja in
Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Thirukoil Palani they have decided to give
'Annadhanam' to the devotees in initially. For this 'Annadhanam' they have
issued order no:YM.M.101683/97 Z3/dated.3.2.98 to permit the Annadhanam regularly.
With reference to this, daily Rs.2500/- spent to give Annadhanam for 200 devotees.
The amount will be collected as a donation from the devotees, and they have
planned to implement it for the devotees only. Hence the interested devotees
& Donors have to donate Rs.25000.
And that above said amount will be deposited in a bank
and from the interest the Kattalai will be performed through life long. Those
who are interested to join in this scheme should give Rs.25000 then
Rs.2500 for first year expenses totally Rs.27500 to the temple as a cheque/DD
addressed to Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani
Swamy Thirukoil, Palani-624 601.They can give Annadhanam on Memorial
Day/Parents Death Anniversary, Wedding Day, Birth Day. The devotees can join in
this scheme and get benefited.
For the
above Kattalais, please send your contributions to the following address;
Joint Commissioner /
Executive Officer,
Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani
Swamy Thirukoil,
Palani - 642
601
Based on the information from Commissioner Office
letter no: 21163/03/k2 dated: 23/12/2003 and the Joint
commissioner office letter no: 1613/03/03 dated 22/1/2004.
Donations can be sent directly to the ICICI Bank
saving account held by Arulmighu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Thirukoil,
Palani.
Devasthanam's
ICICI Bank Account number: 610501007001
Those who are sending through mail transfer system
should give correct address & requests. Prasadam will be sent by the post.
Panchamirtha Prasadam will also be sent by the post. The Devasthanam takes no
responsibility for those inappropriate reasons
No procession of the Golden Chariot will be conducted on
Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram, Navarathri, Soora Samharam and Karthikai Deepam
days. Fees can be paid on the same day of Golden Chariot procession.
Puja fees are subject to change as per Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani
Swami Devasthanam, Palani.
Temple
is administrated by Hindu Religious Charitable Endowments Department.
Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer,
Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Thirukoil,
Palani - 624 601, Dindigul District
Tamilnadu, India
Phone: +91-4545 242236,
242467, 241417
|
Joint Commissioner/ Executive Officer Contact Numbers
|
04545 -241382
9489668101
|
|
Assistant Commissioner contact numbers
|
04545 – 242695
9489668102
|
|
Manager Contact number
|
04545-247765
9489668082 |
|
Hill Temple Superintendent Contact Number
|
04545-242293
9489668093 |
Emergency
Devasthanam
Head office Phone: (+91-4545 242236)
Palani,
Adivaram Police Station No: 04545 – 242910
Fire
Station, Palani No: 04545 – 242299
